The code of conduct also asks workers to be caring, patient, friendly and receptive to citizens.

Vietnam’s government offices have repeatedly been jeered at for their efforts to intervene in personal choices.

There have been various jokes made about a long-standing ban on jeans among civil servants, including a poem which makes it sound like people are banned from wearing pants to work altogether.

Last December, Hanoi announced plans to ban its public workers from having tattoos or wearing “improper” cologne. The capital city received more criticism last February when it threatened to name and shame people who wear skimpy clothes in public places, saying it wanted to become a “civil and polite” destination. Experts warned that it would be difficult, if not illegal, to impose restrictions on how people dress.

Vietnam abolished cash fines for people who wear what it deemed to be indecent clothing in public in 2013.